https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=GanaGana - Revision history2026-07-31T08:09:59ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Gana&diff=117748&oldid=prev>Monkbot at 16:26, 12 December 20202020-12-12T16:26:30Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{For2|the African country|[[Ghana]]|other uses|[[Gana (disambiguation)]]}}<br />
[[File:Gana Dancing Deogarh India.jpg|thumb|upright|A dancing gana, [[Deogarh, Uttar Pradesh|Deogarh]]]]<br />
<br />
The word '''{{IAST|gaṇa}}''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|g|ʌ|n|ə}}; [[Sanskrit]]: गण) in [[Sanskrit]] and [[Pali]] means "flock, troop, multitude, number, tribe, category, series, or class". It can also be used to refer to a "body of attendants" and can refer to "a company, any assemblage or association of men formed for the attainment of the same aims". The word "gana" can also refer to councils or assemblies convened to discuss matters of [[religion]] or other topics.<br />
<br />
In [[Hinduism]], the {{IAST|Gaṇa}}s are attendants of [[Shiva]] and live on [[Mount Kailash]]. [[Ganesha]] was chosen as their leader by Shiva, hence [[Ganesha]]'s title {{IAST|gaṇeśa}} or {{IAST|gaṇapati}}, "lord or leader of the {{IAST|ganas}}".<ref>[[Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend]] ({{ISBN|0-500-51088-1}}) by Anna L. Dallapiccola</ref><br />
<br />
==As Shiva's attendants==<br />
[[File:2016 Singapur, Little India, Świątynia Sri Veeramakaliamman (13).jpg|thumb|250x250px|Ganesha, the leader of the ganas, surrounded by them]]<br />
In Hinduism, the gana are attendants who reside in chthonic and liminal locations such as cemeteries and [[charnel ground]]s. The gana also attend Shiva on [[Mount Kailash]]. The story of creation of [[Virabhadra]] from Shiva's lock and the destruction of [[Daksha]] by [[Virabhadra]] and his ganas are popular stories from the Puraṇas.<br />
<br />
==As assemblies==<br />
{{main|Gaṇa sangha}}<br />
Many books of [[Sanskrit literature]] used ganas and [[sangha]]s.<br />
<br />
Pāṇini in his Sanskrit grammar used gana as:<br />
<br />
:संघोद्घौ गण प्रशंसयो ''Sanghoddhau gaṇa praśansayo''<br />
<br />
The [[Nāradasmṛti]] in Sanskrit mentions:<br />
<br />
It shows that the ganatantra (republic) system of rule was prevalent in India since ancient times.<br />
<br />
===In Shanti Parva===<br />
A detailed analysis of the GANAS obtains in chapter 108 of [[Shanti Parva]] in which [[Yudhishthira]] asks [[Bhishma]] about the ganas: how do they increase, how do they defend themselves from the dividing-policy of enemies, what are their techniques in conquering enemies and in making friends, how do they hide their secret mantras. Bhishma's answers to these questions were recorded in the form of [[shloka]]s (verses) from 16 – 32 in Shanti Parva.<ref>[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/mbs/mbs12108.htm Mahabharata in Sanskrit, Book-12, Ch. 108]</ref><br />
<br />
===In Vedas===<br />
Ganas were narrated in [[Veda]]s in the form of assemblies of warriors as is clear from the following ''[[sutra]]s'' of [[Rigveda]] (RV 3-26-6):{{cn|date=January 2016}}<br />
<br />
:व्रातं व्रातं गणम् गणम् ''Vrātam Vrātam gaṇam gaṇam''<br />
<br />
''Ganatantra'' (republic) means a state run by assemblies.<br />
<br />
The representative members of clans were known as ganas and their assembly as sanghas, there chief as ganadhipati or Ganesha and [[Ganapati]].<br />
<br />
==Sangam literature==<br />
[[Sangam literature]] of [[Tamil language|Tamil]] (c. 300 BCE – c. 300CE) describes the offerings for Ganas. In [[Silapathikaram]] one of the five epics of [[Tamil language|Tamil]] by [[Ilango Adigal]] saying the offering for eighteen kind of Ganas.<ref>{{cite book|title=Silappadikaram by S. Krishnamoorthy|page=35|url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=STbMzFKaxcQC|page=}}}}</ref><br />
<br />
==In Buddhist literature==<br />
The Buddhist literature Mahabagga mentions that:<br />
<br />
:गण पूरकोवा भविस्सामीति ''Gaṇa pūrkovā bhavissāmīti''<br />
<br />
It indicates that an officer used to see the number of ganas and their koram in the Rajasabha (state assembly).{{cn|date=January 2016}}<br />
<br />
[[Buddhist]] books like ‘Pali-pitaka’, Majjhamnikaya, mahabagga, Avadana shataka mentioned ganas and sanghas. During [[Buddha]]'s period India had 116 republics or ganasanghas. In [[Buddhist]] times, ''Gaṇa''s were assemblies of the [[Sangha (Buddhism)|Sanghas]], early democratic republics known as ''Gaṇa-rājya''s, literally "rule of the assembly", a term paralleling ''[[democracy|demo-kratia]]'' or ''[[Soviet (council)|soviet]] republic''. The term was revived in ''Bhārata Gaṇarājya'', the official name of the [[Republic of India]].{{citation needed|date=April 2019}}<br />
<br />
Buddhaghosa mentions (MA.ii.737) the palaces of the Ganadeva-puttas ("Ganadevaputtānañ ca vimānāni") among those seen by King Nemi as Mātali led him through the world of the devas. This term seems to be absent in the corresponding Jātaka.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ganadevaputtā |url=http://www.palikanon.com/english/pali_names/g/ganadevaputtaa.htm |website=Buddhist Dictionary of Pali Proper Names |access-date=2019-04-27}}</ref> It is possible that these deities are associated with the Gaṇas of Hinduism.<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
{{commonscat|Gana (Indian religions)}}<br />
* [[Gaṇa sangha]]<br />
* [[Ganachakra]]<br />
* ''[[Ganatantra]]''<br />
* [[Ganesha]]<br />
* ''[[Genos]]''<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{reflist|30em}}<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080126082404/http://www.philhine.org.uk/writings/tt_gannas.html The Ganas: Hooligans of Heaven]<br />
<br />
{{HinduMythology}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Non-human races in Hindu mythology]]</div>>Monkbot